darkly
In sinister fashion
Darkly means in a dark manner—with little light, or in a way that suggests gloom, menace, or pessimism.
He stared darkly at his rival.
She hinted darkly at conspiracies.
The phrase through a glass darkly (from the Bible) describes seeing or understanding something imperfectly or obscurely.
Darkly comic or darkly humorous describes comedy that treats grim subjects: a darkly funny take on mortality.
In threatening manner
- menacinglyIn a threatening way
- portentouslyWith grave significance
- threateninglyIn a menacing way
- sinisterlyIn an evil manner
balefully · direly · inauspiciously · apocalyptically · fatefully · forbiddingly · warningly · grimly
With weak illumination
- murkilyIn an unclear manner
- shadowilyIn an obscured way
- obscurelyIn unclear fashion
- gloomilyIn a dejected manner
faintly · indistinctly · nebulously · hazily · cloudily · duskily · twilit · tenebrous
In puzzling manner
- crypticallyIn hidden meaning
- inscrutablyBeyond comprehension or reading
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- esotericallyIn secretive, specialized way
unfathomably · inexplicably · sphinxlike · obscurely · impenetrably · ambiguously · puzzlingly · mystifyingly
With unhealthy fixation
- macabrelyIn death-fixated manner
- gruesomelyIn horrifying manner
- ghoulishlyIn a death-obsessed way
- bleaklyIn hopeless manner
dismally · sepulchrally · morosely · somberly · lugubriously · gloomily · desolately · mournfully
In a darkly thoughtful manner
- sullenlyIn morose manner
- gloomilyIn a dejected manner
- pensivelyIn a reflective manner
- moodilyIn temperamental manner
melancholically · despondently · dourly · introspectively · heavily · weightily · solemnly · gravely
Without others' knowledge
- clandestinelyIn a hidden manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
covertly · underhandedly · conspiratorially · shadily · sneakily · deviously · privately · discreetly
ominously
In threatening manner
- menacinglyIn a threatening way
- portentouslyWith grave significance
- threateninglyIn a menacing way
sinisterly · balefully · direly · inauspiciously · apocalyptically · fatefully · forbiddingly · warningly · grimly · bleakly
dimly
With weak illumination
gloomily · faintly · indistinctly · nebulously · hazily · cloudily · duskily · twilit · tenebrous · unlit
enigmatically
In puzzling manner
- crypticallyIn hidden meaning
- inscrutablyBeyond comprehension or reading
- arcaneUnderstood by few
esoterically · unfathomably · inexplicably · sphinxlike · obscurely · impenetrably · ambiguously · puzzlingly · mystifyingly · shadowily
morbidly
With unhealthy fixation
- macabrelyIn death-fixated manner
- gruesomelyIn horrifying manner
- ghoulishlyIn a death-obsessed way
bleakly · dismally · sepulchrally · morosely · somberly · lugubriously · gloomily · desolately · mournfully · pessimistically
broodingly
In a darkly thoughtful manner
moodily · melancholically · despondently · dourly · introspectively · heavily · weightily · solemnly · gravely · heavily
secretly
Without others' knowledge
- clandestinelyIn a hidden manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
stealthily · covertly · underhandedly · conspiratorially · shadily · sneakily · deviously · privately · discreetly · incognito
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- artistic adverbsartistically, stylistically, expressively, evocatively, poetically
darklybrightly
With much light
brilliantly · radiantly · dazzlingly · luminously · glowingly
darklycheerfully
In a glad manner
joyfully · brightly · happily · mirthfully · lightheartedly
darklyinnocently
Without intent to harm
benevolently · purely · virtuously · nobly · transparently
- in the darkUninformed about something
- after darkDuring nighttime hours
- dark chocolateCocoa-heavy candy variety
- shot in the darkAttempt lacking any basis
- dark sideHidden negative aspect
- dark blueDeep shade of azure
dark, darkness, darken, darkened, darkest, darker, darkening, darkish, darkling